Seven Steps to…ACCEPT

Seven Steps to…ACCEPT

In any act of willPower, there is an element of resistance and, often, a sense of discomfort we must overcome. This is where this week’s word comes into play. To move from here to there, we must first ACCEPT where we are. To extract the willPower from this act, we do so without setting an upper limit.

Limited thinking is the death of all greatness.

However, the accuracy of your current positioning helps you (and your coaches, advisers, instructors, etc.) determine the best course of action. Distortion over that…whether in the form of self-denial, distrust, or disbelief will throw you off course. Cue the Seven Steps to…ACCEPT.

What do you need to ACCEPT to commit? Until you ACCEPT that there is an area of life that needs improvement, you will never be fully committed to changing it.

What, in your life, is UN-acceptable? Take steps this week to alleviate, eradicate, or otherwise remedy that situation. One small step is still one step. Extremely powerful because one step leads to the next.

Is your past helping or haunting you? Often, we let past events dictate our present…and, by dictating our present, we unintentionally dictate our future. Think, this week, about what you can ACCEPT from your past in order to move on and, ultimately, serve yourself in the process.

Can you ACCEPT the discomfort, inconvenience, or other resistance necessary to achieve your dream or desire? For example, if your goal is to hold an x-minute plank, are you OK with the shaking that occurs at x-minutes minus 30 seconds?

Can you re-frame it to ACCEPT it? The flip side of “I have to work out” is “I get to work out”. There is always a way to turn an obligation into an asset, a “to-do” into an act of gratitude.

Is there someone in your life you need to ACCEPT? Some people naturally get under our skin. We’re human. Don’t beat yourself up about this. But, by ACCEPTing this is how s(h)e operates, we individually gain a lot. And, ultimately, this assists us in our willPower.

And, finally, can you ACCEPT that you’re human? Not superhuman, not super-anything…just you. Both perfect and imperfect. Real. Give yourself the time and leeway to be both…and love yourself in the process.

Sarah Ingmanson

Sarah is a studio owner, fitness instructor and competitor. She is a former investment banker and equity research analyst with her MBA from the Wharton School and her MA in International Affairs from the Lauder Institute of the University of Pennsylvania. Sarah is fluent in Japanese and consults with Japanese companies on corporate governance, finance, and investor relations. Sarah's interest in Japan stemmed from her first tour with Disney On Ice as a professional figure skater. For more info on Sarah and her studio, visit www.starslocker.com.